Metro Detroit: Newsmakers June 21, 2006

Sports WDFN AM (1130) is doing its part to ease the pinch at the pump with its Free Gas Frenzy. During the months of June, July, and August WDFN will hook up one lucky person with free gas for a month.

During the last two weeks of each month WDFN will encourage listeners to qualify both on-air and in person at nine Red Wing Shoes stores throughout Metro Detroit. Registering is easy...all you have to do is listen Monday through Friday to Jamie & Brady from 6 to 9am, Sean Baligian from 9a to 12p and Stoney & Wojo from 3 to 6pm for the cue to call and be the 11th caller at 313-298-1130 to qualify or go into any Red Wing Shoes store and fill out an entry form.

Free gas qualifiers will be put in a grand prize drawing at the end of each month where one person will win free gas for a month valued at $500. The grand prize winners will be announced live on the air. Runner up winners will also win free gas…literally…when they walk away with cans of beans and more.

Detroit Free Press:

The Big Ten will announce today that it is about to enter into the television business, forming its own network that will launch in 2007. The Chicago Tribune, citing anonymous sources, reported the conference also will announce the ABC/ESPN family will remain the exclusive carrier of some of its signature events. The current deal, set to expire in June 2007, is said to be worth up to $50 million per year. That means ABC/ESPN will continue to get all the choicest cuts like Michigan-Ohio State football... Big Ten forms TV network (Wed 6/21)

They handed out the local Emmys the other evening in Novi. And because the local academy charges for entries and some stations subsidize those efforts while others don't, it's not exactly a totally fair measure of local TV excellence. That said, here's who got statues in some of the high-visibility categories... And the Emmy's go to... (Wed 6/21)

Detroit News:

It looks like WWJ-TV Channel 62 has its mind on fashion. The local CBS affiliate is kicking off a new series called "Eye on Style" that debuts this weekend. The show is slated to give Metro Detroiters an inside look at fashion, beauty, fitness and the area's most talked about events. Interviews with local stylists, designers and personal trainers are supposed to provide viewers with tips on the latest trends, including what's hot in cities such as New York and Los Angeles... WWJ-TV has its 'Eye on Style' (Wed 6/21)

MLive.com/AP:

The Big Ten Conference will create its own cable channel to showcase its athletic and academic programs and has reached new broadcast and cable deals with ABC Sports and ESPN, the conference announced Wednesday. The new channel — which will be created in partnership with Fox Cable Networks — is expected to launch in August 2007, the Park Ridge, Ill.-based league said in a news release. The league also announced it has reached a new 10-year agreement with ABC and ESPN for coverage of football, men's and women's basketball and volleyball... Big Ten announces new TV contract, creation of new cable channel (Wed 6/21)